Control apparatus



Aug. 30, 1927.-

- 1,640,556 L. G. RILEY ET AL I common mymnus v Filed Feb. 14. 1921 '4 shaet-S hee't 1 INVENTORS Aug. 80,

L..G. RILEY ET AL CONTROL APPARATUS Fi-led Feb. 14. 1921 4 Sheets Sheet 2 ATTORNEY L. G. RILEY ET AL CQNTROL APPARATUS Filed Feb 14f 1921 4 Sheets-Shear. 3 17:9. 6.

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'1 640556 Aug, 30, 1927. LG. RILEY ET AL CONTROL APPARATUS I 4 Filed Feb. 14. 192.1 4 Sheets- Shed 4 I I 49 W WITNESSES: L R a INVENfiTORs d 6 ynn 6. /7ey, An rew .Ca/z ee and Maurice E Jones,

v ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 30, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT on= s.;

LYNN a. RILEY, or wmxmsnune;

ANDREW H. CANDEE, O]! FOREST HILLS, AKD

m umcn r. JONES, or wxnxmssuno,{rmmsYLvAma Assmnons Fro wns'rmenous]: morale & MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION or rmmsyn- .VANIA.

oon'mor. ArrABA'rus.

Application fled February 14, 192 1. Serial No. 444,708

LOur invention relates to control apparatus and it has particular relation to switching devices that open and close energized circuits.

I One obj improved fingers. for opening and closing auxiliary cricuits orcircuits of low potential.

A second object of our invention is to provide an improved circuit-mak1ng-and breaking device which has a movable arcing horn that is not an integral part ot a mov able contact terminal. I

A third object of our invention is to pro vide an improved arcing box which. may

1 readily be detached from a switching device for permitting inspection thereof.

Another ob ect of our invention is to provide a new electromagnetic device for operating a valve that controls the application of compressed air to the switching device.

Still to provide a novelmethod'of mounting the switches, that shall permit of their ready removal from a plurality of supporting 435 members upon which they. are mounted and whereby each tained in position by the aid of other corresponding switches and the supporting member.

sojdesign the switching devices that they shall resent a substantially solid iront when ti tion. Anotherobject of our invention is to provide a new arrangement of pneumaticconductors which shall be simple in construction and effective in operation, for supplying v compressed air to a plurality of switching devices.

Briefly speaking, our invention consists in providinga switching device which shall be capable of breaking a reat durability, and which shall be contro ect of our invention is to provideanother object of our invention is.

switch shall be firmly main-- Still another object of our invention is to my are arranged in side by'side relascribed; and

relatively heavy c -l arrying circuit, which shall perimtof,

ready inspection, which shall'have ed el control circuit therefor will require relati-vely slight energy for governing the switching device. I For a better understandin of our invention, reference should be ma e to the accom- 7 panying drawin s,. I r v v Figure 1 of w ich is a view, in side elevation, of a switching device embodying our inventon; r

Fig. 2 is a detail view, in side elevation, of A apparatus shown in Fig. 1; i

Flg. 3 is a plan view ofa movable contact member, arcing horn and electromagnetic device, which are: also shown in Fig. 1, for controllingv the operation of our switch;

Fig. 4 is a view, partially in side elevation and partially in section, of the parts shown in Fig. 3; Y

Figsl 5 and 6 are views, in front and in rear elevation, res ectively, of the switching device shown in Fig; 1;

Figs. 7 and 8 are views, in side and in end elevation, respectively, of the lower arcing horn that is shown in Fig. 1;

Figs. 9 and 10 are cross-sectional views, taken along the lines IX-IX and X-X,

respectively, of Fig. 7

Fig. 11 is aview, 1n side elevatiomof an arcing boxshown in Fig. 1;

. Figs. 12 to 18, inclusive, are detail views of parts of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1, which will hereinafter be more fully dev Figs. 19 and 20 are j views, in side and in end elevation, respectively, of the upper arcing horn that'is shown in Fig. 1. w

..Referring particularly to Fig.1, a switching device 1 comprises a s'tationary contact member or terminal 2, a movable contact member or terminal 3,-an-upper arcing horn 4 a lower arcing horn 5, an arc box 6, a

blow-out coil 7, an electro-pneumatically operated valve mechanism 8, auxiliary contact device 9 and switch terminalsll and 12. ihe switching device 1 is positioned upon i a sup orting member '13 by means of a The parallel supporting members 13 and 18 extend horizontally a sufficient distance i to permit mounting, in side-by-side relation,

the number of switching devices 1 that are required for a particular control system.

The vertical mounting bars 15 are covered with a jacket 19 of suitable impregnated insulating material. An additional covering or coating 20 of insulating material is moulded upon the upper portion of the mounting bars 15 to provide greater sup port for parts of the device 1, which will hereinafter be further described.

The blow-out coil 7 is mounted upon a core member 21 of substantially spool shape which is secured to a plurality of substantially rectangular pole-pieces 22 by a threaded member or bolt 23. A sheet 24 of suitable insulating material is positioned between core member 21 and each of the poleieces 22, which are on both sides thereof, by the threaded member 23.

The upper arcing horn 4 (see Figs. 19 and 20) is of substantially U-shape and has an expanded end portion or bracket 25 for securing it to the mounting bars 15. A bracket 26 is provided for supporting a flat insulating member 27 upon which the contact terminals 11 and 12 are mounted. The bracket 25 of the arcing horn 4 and the bracket 26 are secured to each other and fastened upon the mounting bars 15 by bolts 28.

A substantially triangular pole-piece 30 is secured to each of'the pole-pieces 22 by means of bolts 31. A flat rectangular metal strip 32 is employed as a'filler plate between each of the pole-pieces 30 and the pole-pieces 22. and magnetically connects them together, A portion of the insulating member 24 is also rigidly positioned be tween the poleieces 22 and 30 by one of the bolts 31. bolt 32a is employed for securin the insulating member 24 to the arcing orn 4.

The upper or stationary contact member 2 issecurely fastened to the upper arcing horn 4 by means of a bolt" 33. The contact member 2 is electricallyfconnected to the switch terminal 11 by a. portion of the arcin horn 4 and the blow-out coil 7.

e switch terminals '11 and 12 are positioned in substantially the same lane upon the flat insulating member 27. lily having the contact terminals 11 and 12 of each of the switching devices in substantially the same plane, the terminals of the switching devices 1 inay be readily inter-connected by flat metallic conductors (not shown).

For a better understanding of the mov fastened to a bracket 34 which is mounted upon a piston rod 35.. The piston rod 35 is insulated from the bracket 34 by means of a member 36 made of suitable insulating material.

The arcing horn 5, which is best illustrated in Figs. 7, 8, 9 and 10, comprises a relatively long horn portion or projection 37 and a, shoulder portion 38 for positioning it upon the bracket 34.

The contact member 3 is rigidly secured to the terminal bracket 41 by means of a bolt 42. The terminal bracket 41 is pivotally mounted between a pair of supporting arms 43, which are parts of the bracket 34, by means of a pin 44. I The contact member 3 is electrically connected to the arcing horn 5 by the brackets 34 and 41 and pin 44. The terminal bracket 41 is electrically con nected to the switch terminal 12 by a conductor' 40 (see Fig. 1).

. The terminal bracket 41and the contact member 3 are biased toa slightly inclined position from the horizontal by means of a resilient member or spring 45, which is positioned between, and by, the contact tenninal bracket 41 and a recessed portion 46 which is a part of the bracket 34. A bolt the tubular guide portion 49 and biases the piston 52 to its lower position.

The piston is actuated in an upward diirjec'tion upon air, or some other suitable fl'u'ld under pressure, bemg admitted from a passage 58 to a e hainber 59 that is situated below the piston g gi52; The admission of air to the passage" 58 from an inlet chamber 61 is controlled by a valve member 62 which is mounted upon a valve stem 63. The inlet chamber 61 of each of the switching devices 1 is provided with a plurality of inlet openings 61a (see Fig. 5)- for admitting air or some other suitable fluid to the chamber 61.

The inlet chambers 61 are pneumatically connected in series relation by suitable pipes or conveyors 61b.- The first ofthe conveycurved surface of Figs. 1 and 4) is provided for discharging air from the chamber 59 when the valve member 62 is in itsupper or closed position. P

The valve stem 63 is positioned within a hollow magnetizable core member 66. The core member 66 is positioned within a lat- 51. The core member 66- is provided, at its upper end, with a flat circular portion .68. A flat broad armature member 69 actuates the valve stem 63 and is loosely mounted thereon and upon a. projecting portion 71 which forms a part of the hollow casting 51. The projectin portion '71 has an upper relatively great radius in contact with the armature member 69. \Vhen the armature member 69 is drawn downward toward the core member. 66, the

member 69 maintains a rolling contact upon the curved surface of the pro ecting por- .tion 71.

A bronze pin 72 is positioned in the armature member 69 to prevent it from .freezing to the upper flat portion 68- of the magnetizable core memberv 66 -by reason of residual magnetism. A solenoid 73 is mounted upon the core member 66 and is insulated therefrom by suitable insulating material 74. The solenoid 73 is maintained in position by the flat'. 'projecting portion 68 and the laterally proJecting portion 67 of the hollow casting .51. Suitable termi;

nals 74 are [provided for the solenoid 62 in accordance with well-known practice- The armature member'69 is confined by a cover or encasing member 75 having a slanting projection 76 extending therefrom;

which will be hereinafter described in detail. g

A pin 77 extends through the encasing member 75 and serves to actuate the arma;

* 16 of the drawing.

ture 69 and the valve ste m 63 when it is de; sirable to manually operate the valvdmem l ber 62. The pin 7 7 is provided with an ex- I panded top portion -79 toprevent moisture from entering the opening between the-encasing member 75 and the pin 77.

The hollow casting 51 is secured to themounting bars 15 by bolts 82 (see Fig. 1). The bolts 82 are ositioned within holes 83 of the mounting ars 15, as shownin Fig;

The auxiliary contact device 9 comprise a movable bracket" 86 securely fastened to-t'he piston rod 35 and moving-therewith. A pluz rality of contact segments 88 are mounted upon an insulating member or blockg89' which is secured to the bracket 86 and is. actuated thereby (see Figs. 6, 17 and 18).

' Contact segments 88 are engaged by suitable auxiliary contact fingers 91, each of i as the V-shaped portion 95 thereof is formed by bending the outer end of each'of the fingers 91-inwardly. By forming the contact finger 91 in this'manner, agreater length of active sprin material is provided therefor than would e provided if the V-shaped portion 95' were not bent backwardly upon the finger 91 but'were formed in the usual manner. This increase in theeflec-tive length of the finger 91 is substantially equal to the width ofthe top of the V-shaped portion 95. The auxiliary circuits, comprising the contact fingers 91 and the contact segments 88, are opened or closed upon th piston rod 35 being actuated. 4

The are box 6 comprises aplurality of flat insulating members 97 and 98, which fit tightly together and are located onboth sides of the contact terminals 2 and 3 andbetwe'en them and the pole-pieces 30s The members '97 and 98 on one side aresecure'd to the corresponding side-pieces 97 and 98 upon the oppositeside of the coil 7 by means of bolts 99 which extend through upper'arcing block 100 and lower arcing block 101. These ,blocksare comp 'sed of suitable insulating material, such as soapstone.

Projecting members 102 are positioned at right angles to the side members or barriers 97 and 98 by means of projecting' -members 102 are so made that, upon a plurality of switching de'vlces l -being placed in side-by-side relation, the corresp0ndingiproject1ng members 102 may be brought, into engagement to form a substantially' plane surface near the front of the switching devices 1.

The. side member or barriers 97 and 98 are .providedwith curved portions screws 103. The side 7 105' which ..,permit the arcing box 6 to be brought into tight engagement with the blow-outcoil 7.

The arcing switching device 1 by inserting it between box 6 is positioned upon'the I the pole-pieces 30 and forcing it diagonally upward until it is stopped by an insulating block or member 106 which is secured to the upper arcing born 4 by means of a screw 107 (see Fig. 1 and also by a portion of the bracket 25 forming a part of the arcing horn 4. The lower arcing block 101 of the box 6 slides upon the slanting projection 76'.

locked in position by a. latching device 108 comprising a latching spring 109 which is secured to the arcing box 6 by means of a latching bracket 110, rivets 110a and the The lower portion of the arcing box 6 is Eli bolt 99. A hook 111 is fastened to the latching spring 109 by a rivet 112. The hook 111 is of less width than the latch spring 109 and is positioned upon the under side thereof. I

When th arcing box 6 is in position, the latching spring 109 engages the slant-ing portion 76 of the encasing member 75 which has been previously mentioned. The encasing member 75 is best illustrated in Figs. 12, 13 and 14.- and comprises an irregular shaped casting having a hollow dome portion 113, a projecting lug 114 for securing it-to the cylindrical casting 51 and circular hole 115 for the pin 77.

Th slanting portion 76 of the encasing member 75 comprises two arms 116 having a slot 117 therebetween, in which the hook 111 is positioned. A lug 118 at the end of each of the projecting arms 116 prevents the latching spring 109 from sliding forward.

Th arcing-box 6 may be removed by lifting up the hook 111 and then withdrawing the arcing box 6 from between the polepieces 30.

The operation of the contactor or switching device 1 is begun by energizing the solenoid 73 thereof. This energization is governed either by a master controller (not shown) or otherwise.

When the solenoid -73 is energized, a magnetic circuit is established comprising the core member 66, the hollow casting 51 and the armature member 69. The armature member 69 is drawn downward, thereby actuating the valve stem 63 and the valve member 62.

Fluid from a suitable source of fiuid'pres sure is conveyed from 'the pipe 611) through inlet chamber 61, past the valve member 62 and through the passage 58, into thechamber 59. The pressure applied to the piston 52 is sufficient to actuate it upwardly, thereby compressing the spring 57. The piston rod 35'is actuated upwardly by the piston 52, thereby raising the contact terminal 3 and the arcing horn 5. The tip of the contact terminal 3 will first engage the tip of the stationary contact terminal 2, and a rolling action will occur as the entire contact surface of the terminal 3 becomes positioned against the contact terminal 2. This rolling action is secured by the contact terminal 3 being pivotally mounted and being biased in an upward direction by means of the resilient member 45.

As soon as the contact members 2 and 3 are brought into engagement, a. circuit is established from the switch terminal 11 to the blowout coil 21, a portion of the arcing horn 4, contact members 2 and 3,. contact bracket 41, conductor 40 and switch terminal 12.

When the piston rod 35 is forced upward, the supporting member 89 for the contact the arc fromspreading upwardly beyond segments 88 is actuated thereby to raise the contact segments 88, thereby breakin or establishing electrical connections with the contact fingers 91, in accordance with predetermined design.

The switching device 1 may be permitted to assume its open position by opening the circuit which energizes the solenoid 73. When the solenoid 73 is de-energized, the magnetic attraction of the core member 66 ceases, and armature member 69 is actuated upwardly by the resilient member 64 assisted by the action of the fluid acting upon the valve member 62 and the valve stem 63.

As soon as the valve member 62 reaches its upper position, pressure is no longer applied to the piston 52 and the air orother fluid confined within the chamber 59 is permitted to escape through the exhaust port a. The spring or resilient member 57 will actuate the piston 52 downwardly. When the piston rod 35 is lowered, the arcing born 5 and the contact terminal 3 are likewise actuated to their lower positions.

The are formed between the contact terminals 2 and 3 is blown outwardly by the magnetic circuit comprising the magnet coil 21, core member 23 and the pole pieces 22 and 30, between the arcing horns 4 and 5, until it is cooled sufficiently to become extinguished.

It will be noted that the soapstone barrier 100 and the insulating member 106 prevent the arcinghorn 4 to other meta of the switching device 1.

It is also to be noted that the contact terminal 3, when assuming its open position, has movement relative to both the stationary. contact terminal 2 and the arcing horn 5. The tip of the contact terminal 3 is actuated, from the adjacent portion of the arcing horn 5, by the resilient member 45.

WVhen the piston rod 35 descends, the supporting member 89, upon which the contact 0 parts segments 88 are mounted, is actuated downwardly, thereby breaking or establishin circuits through the contact fingers 91 an the contact segments 88, in accordance with predetermined design.

' From the above description, it is apparent that a number of novel features have been embodied in our switching device tending to make it more compact and requiring less expenditure of electrical energy to control its operation than has heretofore been accomplished. These features have been secured without lessening its positive and effective operation and its arc-interrupting capacity.

lVhile we have shown our invention in a preferred form, it is ap arent that minor modifications may be ma e in the arrangement and shape of the parts of the a paratus without departing from the spir t of 'member for mounting our invention. We desire, therefore, to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

We claim as our invention l 1. The combination with a switching device comprising a stationary arc horn and a stationary valve member, said horn and said valve member having surfaces which are substantially parallel, of an arcing box having surfaces substantially parallel to the parallel surfaces of said horn and said valve said box upon said horn and said valve member, the said surfaces of said box slidingly engaging the corresponding surfaces of said horn and said valve member, and means for latching said box into position.

2. The combination with a plurality of substantially similar switching'devices and means for supporting saiddevices'in sideboxes,

by-side relation, of a pluralit of arcing one box bemg mounte upon each of said devices, said boxes :being so shaped that a substantially continuous wall is formed along the front of said devices by said boxes.

3. The combination with a plurality of switching devices in side-by-side relation,

each of said devices having a grooved portion and a shoulder portion, stationary means coacting with each of said shoulder portions and said grooved portions for steadying said devices, and means comprising a plurality of arcing boxes for preventing lateral movement of said devices, said boxes being in intimate contact with each other.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto subscribed our names this 8th day'of February, 1921.

LYNN G. RILEY. ANDREW H. CANDEE. MAURICE F. JONES. 

